State DGPs reject revised schedule

The IPL received a further blow after the state Director General of Police(DGPs) rejected the revised schedule, saying they wouldn't be able to provide adequate security for the games.

Earlier today the IPL sent a revised schedule to the home ministry.

The matches will still be held within the April 10 - May 24 window but the schedule has been tinkered to ensure that it leaves a minimum gap of 48 hours - six to seven days in some cases - before and after the election days at any venue.

"We are confident but there is still some way to go before we can be 100% sure," a senior member of the IPL's governing council said. "There are no specific meetings scheduled but discussions have already been initiated with the government at various levels."

The IPL council is prepared to negotiate and the governing council member also proposed an alternative plan. "We could have the tournament in two legs at some venues and, in one case, there is a clear possibility of wrapping up the matches before the election date [at that venue]," the official said.

In the worst case, the IPL could be cut down from 44 days to 30 days.

"We're just changing the dates around matches, around polling," Dhiraj Malhotra told Reuters. "Where do you postpone it to? There is a World Cup starting on the first of June, (with) the first warm up game," he said, referring to the Twenty20 World Cup in England from June 5-21.

Malhotra said security had been assessed in the past few weeks and that league officials would talk to players and national boards to allay safety fears. "Before this (the Lahore attack) happened we'd already decided on security," he said. "We've a security warden in India who has been here for the last one month roaming around these eight venues, meeting with the local authorities. "Once we shift the dates around the election, obviously we will get the local police and all. If the election is happening in Chennai it is possible to have a match in Mumbai. "Right now we are talking to the players, all the boards. I don't see it being a problem."